From Rome to Algiers: Masiello Revives Training Exchanges for Security in the Mediterranean

The relations between Italy and Algeria are experiencing a phase of further consolidation, with a growing convergence on strategic dossiers ranging from regional security to economic-energy cooperation. In this context, the recent visit to Algiers by the Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, Gen. C.A. Carmine Masiello, who met with the Chief of Staff of the Armée Nationale Populaire and Delegate Minister at the Algerian Ministry of Defense, General Saïd Chengriha, is included.

The Masiello–Chengriha Meeting: Focus on Training and Exchanges Between Land Forces

The meeting, held in Algiers in the presence of the Italian Ambassador to Algeria, Alberto Cutillo, was presented as a significant step to strengthen cooperation between the respective land forces, with particular attention to the opportunities for expanding training and educational exchanges. The declared objective is the promotion of regional security and stability, with specific attention to the Mediterranean area.

During the visit, Masiello emphasized the climate of “growing mutual understanding” and the “solid friendship relations” between the two countries, also highlighting the historical nature of the event: it would be the first official visit to Algeria by a Chief of Staff of the Italian Army, with the intent to further develop military relations based on equality, trust, and mutual respect, enhancing the exchange of professional excellence.

A “Comprehensive” Relationship: From Political Summit to Operational Agreements

The military dimension is placed within a broader political-diplomatic framework. A key step was the Italy–Algeria intergovernmental summit on July 23, 2025, which reiterated the desire to strengthen the bilateral partnership across multiple sectors, including security and institutional cooperation.
In parallel, the collaboration has also been interpreted in terms of managing shared threats—from terrorism to migration flows—topics that, according to international reconstructions, have strongly entered the common agenda during high-level meetings between Rome and Algiers.

Energy and Trade: The Economic Backbone of the Partnership

Alongside security, the energy pillar remains central. In 2025, Eni and Sonatrach announced agreements to strengthen cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons and energy transition, explicitly linking it to energy security and the economic development of both countries.
On the upstream front, significant agreements for exploration and development of deposits have also been reported, confirming the depth of the industrial bond in the sector.

The overall economic framework is significant: Italian institutional sources indicate that the Italy–Algeria trade in 2024 amounted to 13.95 billion euros, with a strong incidence of energy imports (gas primarily) and Italian exports concentrated on sectors such as machinery and chemicals.

Why It Also Matters on the Mediterranean Strategic Level

The visit of Gen. Masiello to Algiers indicates that the bilateral relationship is no longer interpreted solely through the energy lens: cooperation between defense apparatuses and the growth of training/educational initiatives aim to build interoperability, trust, and stable channels of dialogue. In a Mediterranean marked by instability in multiple areas, the Rome–Algiers axis thus tends to structure itself as one of the pillars of security and stability in the area, complementing economic dossiers with an increasingly concrete military dimension.